Judges

The Senate is considering changing the way it nominates judges to make the process more open and free of partisan politics.

The proposed reform would do away with the age-old practice of letting Democrats -who have controlled the majority - pick judges in a closed-door caucus meeting.

Instead, all senators who represent a judicial circuit would have a say in nominating a judge and would agree, by consensus, to a candidate. That name would then be taken to the full Senate for a vote.

The move would give Republicans a say in judicial nominations for the first time. The push for reform was prompted by the composition of the new Senate, which is now split evenly between Democrats and Republicans.

But the House, which remains solidly under Democratic control, would continue to pick judges through its Democratic caucus. If the two chambers can't agree on a nominee, a conference committee would be created to draft a compromise.

The Senate's proposed reform will be taken up today as part of a package of rules that will govern the business of the deadlocked upper chamber.